|
|
|
| |
- 5 MB Disk Space |
| |
- 100 MB Data Transfer |
| |
- Free Support |
| |
- Immediate Activation |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| Benefits of using a Streaming Server for your media
files |
| |
| There are two ways to deliver media content
over the web-using a web server or using a streaming server. While web
servers work well for media like ext and images, they can't server up large
video and audio files on-demand. |
| |
| Earlier (before streaming became popular), your viewers
would have to first download the file and then run it. A 30-second video
clip could take thirty minutes to download on a 56-Kbps connection. This
means that it could take much longer to download the file than to actually view
it. |
| |
| Conversely if you were to stream the same
30-second video clip to your viewers, there would probably be only a 5 or
10-second lag between clicking "Play" and the video starting! This is the
power of streaming technology-making audio and video available almost
instantaneously!
|
| |
| Placing media files on a Web Server
|
| |
|
You can put media files directly on your website, storing them on a web
server. We will refer to this as the "Download-and-Play" model. |
|
| |
| |
The Download-and-Play model is far from perfect.
The primary problem with the Download-and-Play model is that it requires your
viewers to download the media files. This introduces what can be long
delays before the file starts playing. Many viewers will hesitate to
download media content. Finally, you lose some control over your
media-once a file is downloaded, it can easily be uploaded to another site or
shared using peer-to-peer (P2P) technology. With these inherent problems,
the Download-and-Play model is not recommended. |
|
| |
| |
Using a Streaming Media Server
|
| |
| |
When you use a Streaming Media
Server to distribute audio and video content, the initial step is
similar. You create a media file and
save it in a streaming format. However, instead of hosting it on
a web server along with all your your HTML or other web site files, the
streaming media file is hosted on a streaming server such as
Video Desk and a web page containing a reference to the media
file is stored on the web server. |
|
| |
| |
Streaming servers handle communication with the player
very differently from web servers. Streaming Servers are designed to
deliver an uninterrupted high-quality media experience to online viewers, on
demand. The file is actively and intelligently streamed to the
client. The amount of data sent each second is tailored to a bit rate
that is set when the file was created. The server and the client computer
stay in constant communication during the streaming process, and the server can
respond to any feedback from the client. |
| |
|
| |
Streaming Servers use protocols like User Datagram
Protocol (UDP) to provide a better streaming experience. UDP has less
overhead of connection maintenance and retransmission than the Transmission
Control Protocol (TCP). Its lower demands on both the network and on the
streaming server make UDP an ideal protocol for transmitting audio and video
on-demand. Another advantage is that UDP traffic gets higher priority
than TCP traffic on the Internet. |
|
| |
| |
The advantages of using a streaming server like Video Desk: |
| |
|
| |
-
More efficient use of the available bandwidth:
TCP-based transmission consumes bandwidth by retransmitting dropped packets and
re-estimating the throughput that can be supported by the network connection
after a packet loss.
-
Better Media Quality for the viewer:
Since the streaming server and the client constantly communicate during the
streaming process, the server can dynamically respond to any change in the
network environment. For example if network congestion suddenly allows
the viewer only 22 Kbps instead of 28.8 Kbps, the server can decide to retain
the audio quality but slightly reduce the frame-rate of the video to keep the
total under the 22-Kbps limit. A non-streaming web server can't change
the frame rate during a download, so there would be pauses during playback (if
the file is played before the download completes). Also the fact that UDP
is given higher priority over HTTP traffic increases the likelihood of
uninterrupted viewing.
-
Cost-effective transmission to a large number of viewers: Receiving
many simultaneous requests degrades the performance of a web server. It improves
the performance of a streaming server! An intelligent streaming
server like Video Desk
improves performance by optimizing how media files are read from the disk,
buffered in main memory, and streamed onto the network.
-
Protection of Content: With Video Desk viewers can play
streamed media. They cannot easily make a copy of your file.
-
Media Reports: All streaming servers provide log files containing
real-time information about who is viewing your media, how much data is
transferred, which clips have been played and the average length of time for
which people are viewing your clip (s).
Video Desk compiles this information into an
easy-to-understand Media Report. The report lets you determine the
preferences of your audience, and helps you create media that get your message
across effectively.
|
|
| |
Summing Up: |
| |
| |
With all these advantages, it's clear that a streaming server is the right
answer for your audio and video distribution needs. |
|
|
|